Tori and Evan were the last couple in front of my lens in 2015, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

At one point during our shoot, I asked Evan to look at Tori and give her his best flirty face, as if he’d just seen her across the room and was trying to catch her eye at Nav Night—the large group gathering of the ministry we were all a part of at Penn State. Tori and Evan both tore into laughter, and I realized that I’d accidentally just stumbled upon the first page of their story. A classic beginning for a classic pair, of course. Boy sees girl. Boy says, “Woah.” Boy charms girl with his kindness, humor, patience, and excellent fishing skills 😉 In the case of Tori and Evan, boy may have also had a bit of help when Tori’s now-brother-in-law introduced the pair, but I’m gonna go ahead and stick with the fishing thing!

No matter the combination of Evan’s excellent qualities that found his way into Tori’s heart (though I do hear that his great hugs were a contributing factor!), here is what I know: Tori and Evan are so peanut-butter-and-jelly, gravy-on-mashed-potatoes, macaroni-and-cheese, and any other delicious food combination you can think of perfect for each other because of their sweet, incredibly kind-hearted souls, their solid sense of fun and adventure, and their big love for the Lord. It’s the glue that’s held them together so tightly despite the past two years of long distance while Tori worked with Teach for America in North Carolina and Evan took a job in Pennsylvania. It’s the foundation that tells me how strong their marriage and lives together will be, because it’s all being build on such a solid base.

T+E, I can’t thank you enough for braving the cold, the wind, and the briar patches and laughing your way through this shoot with me! I had so much fun exploring Phoenixville and Valley Forge with you two, climbing all over your Jeep (where they shared their first kiss, y’all!), and driving the wrong way down one-way streets. I’m so thankful to be your photographer, but even more your friend! July 16 can’t come fast enough! Until then, here are just a few favorites from our day in Valley Forge!